Devices adapted for assisting paralyzed or hemiplegic persons



Aug. 25, 1959 M o. KILMER 2,900,976

DEVICES ADAPTED FOR ASSISTING PARALYZED OR HEMIPLEGIC PERSONS Filed Feb. 5, 1957 INVENTOR.

Geq r ge Ma Q. Ki lmer United States Patent DEVICES ADAPTED FOR ASSISTING PARALYZED OR HEMIPLEGIC PERSONS George McQ. Kilmer, Fort Howard, Md. Application February 5, 1957, Serial No. 638,372

4 Claims. (Cl. 128-1) This invention relates to devices adapted for assisting paralyzed or hemiplegic persons in aiding themselves in fitting and removing leg braces; or in aiding themselves generally in self-care and in aid toward ambulation.

It is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character by which an impaired limb can be supported and raised or lowered as required to enable a patient to fit or remove a leg brace or perform other activities in which movement or elevation of the paralyzed leg is required.

More partciularly, the invention contemplates the provision of a leg-encircling band or sling that is readily fitted around the leg by the patient, and of tackle, consisting primarily of a guided flexible cable or cord terminating in a handle on which manual pull is exerted, to result in an elevating movement of the leg aronud which the band or sling is fitted.

The invention further contemplates other features of construction in the described structure, the advantages of which will be apparent to those skilled in this art.

With these and other objects to be hereinafter set forth in view, I have devised the arrangement of parts to be described and more particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a device made in accordance with the invention; i

Fig. 2 is a view of the handle, the cord or cable attached thereto, and the means for regulating the effective length of the cable;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the leg band or sling, and

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the leg band or sling.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates an upright standard or post adapted for either detachable or permanent securement to one or the other of the arms, sides or other suitable portions of a wheel chair. One or more bands or straps 2, may be employed for firmly attaching the post in an erect or upright position to the arm or other part 3 of the chair. At its upper end, the post may, if desired, be provided with a hand hold 4.

A clamp 5 is adjustably fitted around the post 1 and said clamp carries a pulley 6 acting as a guide for a flexible cable or cord 7. At one end, the cord or cable 7 is attached to a snap hook 8 adapted for detachable engagement with a ring 9 mounted at one end of a band or sling 11. Said band or sling may be made of strong flexible material such as nylon, canvas or leather and it forms a loop-shaped element of ill-form adapted for encirclernent of the impaired leg. At one end the loop member 10 is fastened to the band 11 and the said loop receives a ring 9. The opposite end of the band 11 is provided with a loop 13 which receives D shaped ring 12 of such internal size that the ring 9 may be passed through it, as shown inFig. 1, and the ring 9 then engaged by the snap hook 8.- The band or sling 11 may be suitably stitfened or reinforced by stiffening wires or rods 18 secured to the outer face of the band or sling, either by insertion in pockets, or by the stitches indicated at 19. These stiffening elements 18 tend to maintain the band or sling in its arcuate form as shown in Fig. 3.

At the opposite end of the cord or cable 7 is provided a handle 15, which may be in the triangulated form shown in Fig. 2, or of other suitable shape. The cord or cable is looped through the handle and is engaged with an adjusting member 14 substantially as shown, and by means of which the effective operating length of the cord or cable may be regulated.

At the lower end of the upright or post 1 is provided a lateral extension or foot 16, terminating in a hook portion 17 providing a means for engagement with the handle 15.

From the foregoing, the operation of the described apparatus will be readily understood. The band or sling is readily fitted around the impaired leg by the patient and the ring 9 is inserted through the D-shaped loop, the hook 8 being thereupon connected to the ring 9. By manual pull exerted by the patient on the handle 15, the cord or cable will be drawn upwardly through pulley 6 to thereby elevate the leg a few inches or to a height as required. The handle 15 is then engaged with the hook 17 to hold the leg at the desired elevation. With the leg in this elevated position, the brace to be placed on the leg is inserted under it and when the handle 15 is removed from its engagement with the book 17, the leg will be lowered into the brace, the straps for attaching the brace being then buckled. After ambulation the patient can again be seated and can easily remove the brace, which can be expedited by elevating the leg: by means of the device herein described.

While I have herein described a particular method of using the apparatus, it will be apparent that it may be used for various other purposes useful to the patient. and under conditions where it is desirable to raise or lower a paralyzed leg.

While I have described a single embodiment of the invention, it is obvious that the same is not to be restricted thereto, but is broad enough to cover all structures coming within the scope of the annexed claims.

What I claim is:

1. An apparatus for aiding movement of a paralyzed limb, comprising, a band for encircling the limb, the band having a loop at each end, one of the loops extending through the other loop, a cable attached to the first-mentioned loop, an upright for attachment to a wheel chair, pulley guide means carried by the upright adjacent to the top thereof and through which the cable extends, means for regulating the eifective length of the cable and forming a loop at the end of the same, and a handle in said loop at one end of the cable by means of which the cable may be moved. through the pulley to elevate the limb encircled by the band.

2. An apparatus for aiding movement of a paralyzed limb comprising a substantially C-shaped band for fitment around a leg to be raised or lowered, means at the ends of the band for connecting said ends, one of said means being a ring, a flexible cable having one end attached to the ring, an upright for attachment to the side of a wheel chair, a pulley carried by said upright adjacent to its upper end, the cable being guided through the pulley, the second end of the cable being provided with an adjustable loop to regulate the effective length of the cable, a handle confined in the loop, end means on the upright for engagement with the handle for limiting the movement of the cable through the pulley.

3. An apparatus for aiding movement of. a paralyzed limb comprising, a vertical post for attachment to the side of a wheel chair, a hand-hold at the upper end of' the same, a pulley mounted adjacent to thehand-hold,.

a flexible cable guided thrdugh the pulley, a handle at effective length of the same,"a lateral hook-shaped foot heh d for engagement vyi th ojne b f d r ngs the band is of flexible material and is maintained in arenate shape by stiffening wires secured to one of its faces.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

